A selection of ambient, modern classical, and electroacoustic works for Autumn 2020 (closed Nov 24).

Read the weekly Field Journal posts on the blog at https://stationarytravels.wordpress.com/category/travelogues/field-journal/

Image by Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Field Journal Companion - Autumn 2020

Mia Gargaret

lakes

Hallowed Halls was written as a homage to ancient or enchanting architectural spaces. When you walk into some buildings, the sense of history living within the walls and very fabric of the building is palpable. Generations come and go, lovingly maintaining their most cherished spaces to exist within a world they will never know. The piece combines the sound of an old orchestral keyboard instrument called the celeste with various synths and bell-like textures, and a repetitive groove built from a traditional Irish drum called the bodhran. Louise Anna’s voice is also used within the texture to create a sense of it reverberating within the space. The track has taken on a new significance recently, with all the concert halls, theatres and gathering spaces worldwide that lie dormant, waiting to be filled with life again.
credits

Written by Zands & Louise Anna Duggan
Produced & mixed by Oli Jacobs
Mastered by Guy Davie
Recorded at Real World Studios, UK
Cover Artwork by Melanie Kretzer

Download

Minihi - Hallowed Halls

The Time It Takes

The Valley in Betwen

OST by Richard Luke for 'In the Company of Insects' a short film by Duncan Cowles. 
Watch the film: https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2020/08/18/in-the-company-of-insects 
Prompted by the death of his grandfather, a filmmaker comes to terms with his feelings of loss by focussing on something smaller. Soundtrack released on 28 August via Highpony.

http://www.richardluke.co.uk
http://www.duncancowles.com

In The Company Of Insects (part III)

A Story on a Decorative Plate

Work in progress track featuring stacked vocals recorded through a Nagra IV-S, Una Corda piano treated with a 70s BSR 1/4" machine, and Yamaha CS80 synth only.

When The Nagra Sings (demo)

"Emmeck" is taken from "In Sight", F.S.Blumm´s first solo album for Sonic Pieces. Handmade LP and CD editions available from August 28th.

In sight

In Sight

F.S.Blumm - Emmeck

Buy/listen: https://christophertignor.bandcamp.com/track/ode-to-joy

Christopher Tignor - "Ode to Joy"

One of the earliest tracks written for this album. Different piano parts
fight against each other to come out on top. 
Much like in a stressful relationship, both parts are as important as the other but they fail to recognize this. A third party arrives later (in the form of synthesizer & organ) to bring unity to both parts and introduce a sense of peaceful harmony.

This all inevitably comes to somewhat of an abrupt ending, fading out
leaving the listener to wonder what’s going to happen next.

Photo by Shane Vaughan

How To Disappear

When Away

When Away [How To Disappear]

Snowdrops - Trapezian Fields

Overcoming distance and solitude, Julia Gjertsen and Nico Rosenberg join from across the oceans for a tranquil new project. A precursor to their full EP on Moderna Records later this year, Los Océanos delivers an unmistakable quietude to prepare the mental palette for what is to come.

Find it here: https://bit.ly/2FyJ3Lq

A sense of floating on waves under an illuminated night sky, being rocked to sleep by its gentle caress.

The two started collaborating online, bridging the 8,000 miles between Norway and Chile. Beginning as a MAX/MSP patch designed by Rosenberg, Gjertsen supplied layers of piano improvisations, before the result being recorded to tape at a slower pace, giving it its serene, dream-like quality.

Julia Gjertsen & Nico Rosenberg - Los Océanos

Take 3 - Ways

Lead single 'Waiting' from Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres' debut album 2 YEARS STRANGER releasing Nov 20th 2020

All tracks written and produced by Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres
Mastering | Freddie Prest
Publishing | Manners McDade
Distribution | The Orchard
Artwork | SABR Mask by Tim Hamilton

2 Years Stranger

Waiting

My new Christoffer Franzén EP "Ghost Of You" is now out everywhere music lives digitally. 

Stream / Download: https://orcd.co/franzen-ghost

Ghost Of You

Tainted

First track from Shida Shahabi's 'Lake On Fire' Ep, which is set for digital release on 16th October.
The score to Jennifer Rainsford’s short film of the same name, ‘Lake On Fire’ sees Stockholm-based pianist/ composer Shida Shahabi following up last year’s ‘Shifts’ EP and her 2018 debut ‘Homes’ with a new release that expands her repertoire via a move away from the piano, with three of its four tracks being played on organ and analogue synth.

Described by the director as “a subtle science fiction short film about regret and an A.I. only interested in humans for giving love advice”, the fifteen-minute long film tells a story from a distant future of two former lovers who are reunited in a virtual forest. Within this AI-created landscape, “flowers talk, the forest is animated by subtly, yet continually shifting colors while fighting virtual wars and the former couple come to realise they can't change the past”. Shida’s score perfectly mirrors the film's slow, strange unfolding as well as its sense of dislocation and unease. As with Shida’s previous releases, the music here is deeply immersive, its engaging impact as much about the decay of each sound and the shapes hanging between the notes.

Mastered by Francesco Donadello at Calyx in Berlin.
'Lake On Fire' will be available in Scandinavia via Sing A Song Fighter

Lake On Fire

pre-order

Shida Shahabi - Prolog

Elders

Ergens

So very pleased to announce the double EP Landbrot by @snorrihallgrimsson. This introspective and personal collection of instrumental pieces takes its name from the location of his family cabin in rural Iceland, which he describes as his ‘happy place’. Landbrot translates to erosion or ‘land fractures’, and from this we can imagine the search for inner calm & acceptance amongst the many obstacles of daily life.

The first EP is out now on all platforms : https://orcd.co/landbrot-i

Piano: Snorri Hallgrímsson
Violin: Björk Óskarsdóttir
Viola: Karl James Pestka
Cello: Unnur Jónsdóttir

Landbrot I

Haustar

Buy 'Landbrot I'

Snorri Hallgrímsson - Haustar

Yes, I know that I had just had an exclusive track premiere a day ago, but I've got another one for you, kids, and this one is worth celebrating! As you have already read in the title of this writeup, today, I am sharing a track by Sebastian Plano and Maarten Vos who have paired for a self-release they simply titled "&." Although I can already see how the title will bring the duo unforeseen trouble [electronic media unfriendly to ampersands or HTML escape codes will struggle with the name!], the music will bring trouble to your unprotected heart, piercing its walls with the emotive, sensitive, and poignant. Argentinian cellist, composer, and producer, Sebastian Plano, is, of course, no stranger to my ears. I was very much impressed with his collaboration on Everything (Erased Tapes, 2017) with Ben Lukas Boysen; and mesmerized with his Merkury KX release of Verve in 2019. Dutch Maarten Vos is also a cellist, composer, and producer, whom I have only heard of via his collaboration with Michel Banabila on Home (Tapu, 2017). For their collaborative debut, the duo put together seven pieces after a week-long recording session, "which transcends from cello duos to counterposed piano melodies, synthesizers, and electronics." This beautifully stammering piece resolves into a liquid bliss.

Dense & Density

TRACK PREMIERE : Sebastian Plano & Maarten Vos - Dense & Density

From the album The Blue of Distance available January 22, 2021 on Western Vinyl.
Pre-order / listen https://smarturl.it/is1c76

The Blue of Distance

Elori Saxl - "Wave I"

So pleased to share Promise / Sleepy Meadows, a new double single for solo piano by Finnish composer @julia_andersson

You can give this reflective pair of pieces a listen wherever you stream music: orcd.co/promise
 
"...like the winds of reassuring words, whispered in your ear by someone waiting patiently at your side..."

Promise / Sleepy Meadows

Promise

Julia Andersson - Promise

Stationary Travels is a personal music blog covering ambient, electroacoustic, modern classical, post rock & experimental music.  Outside of ST, I enjoy a variety of other genres which you may see mixed in here as well.  Please feel welcome to follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress (links below).  If you are an artist and would like to submit something for consideration of promotion or review, you can message me to discuss the details. 

 "He who does not travel, who does not read, who does not listen to music, who does not find grace in himself, she who does not find grace in herself, dies slowly" - Martha Medeiros